Art & Photography internships in Ireland

Ireland has a rich artistic heritage that has translated into a thriving contemporary art scene.

Supporting the arts is considered so important in Irish society that in 1969 the government exempted artists from paying tax on income from creative works. While it was capped in the last few years (mostly an unsuccessful effort to get U2 to pay tax), it’s left a legacy of Irish painters, poets, sculptures and musicians emerging to share their work, and creatives coming to live in Ireland from all over the world.

The photography scene is coming into its own in Ireland, with a national Gallery of Photography, several dedicated photography festivals, and artists such as Richard Mosse winning prestigious awards and critical acclaim. As Angel Luis Gonzalez Fernandez, director of the annual Photo Ireland festival, told TIME magazine recently, “there is definitely a massive, well-informed arts scene here in terms of artists and curators… and now there is a more dynamic [photography] scene”.

Your internship will allow you to immerse yourself in Ireland’s creative culture, and help you develop your own. The placement might find you in a contemporary art gallery or photography gallery, a graphic design studio, or a creative collective.

Some interns will be placed right alongside a photographer, designer or artist, just like Sydnie.

Sydnie’s Story

Sydnie Roper from New Mexico State University did a Photography Internship in 2016“My visit to Ireland completely exceeded my expectations. I have to be honest, initially I imagined I needed to be an outdoor person to enjoy the country! I was definitely wrong. Ireland is a place where I want to be outdoors as much as possible. The imagery is so captivating and its visuals vary across the land. The landscapes are very alluring and simple to hike around.

With the help of Learn International my visit to Dublin could not have been better. They assisted me immediately with any concern I had and were eager to hear about all of my experiences anytime I did something new. I shared many stories about my internship and how great my colleagues were. My internship allowed me to travel to different wedding destinations and see the historic venues Ireland had to offer. My advisor from Learn International was very personal with the way she assisted and interacted with me. I truly feel I had a friend by my side in times of need or just for lunch!

Speaking of food, Ireland wasn’t short of amazing places to eat and enjoy night life. I’ll never forget the evenings I spent watching performers dancing in pubs, streets and restaurants just to entertain us! The way the performers interacted with one another and the crowd really made for a genuine and friendly vibe in Ireland. I think about the six weeks I spent in Ireland almost everyday.

It has changed the aspirations I have in life and made my desires more meaningful. It is remarkable how big of an impact this country and program has had on me. I would not change it for a thing.”

Scholarships

We’re delighted to offer three scholarships a year of up to €500 per student, thatare deducted off the final payment.

Scholarship applications can be submitted as part of the general internship application.You must have a 3.0 GPA to apply. The scholarship section has two parts: an one-page essay about how the placement will contribute to your academic and career goals, and a choice of how you might record your internship experience (through a blog, video or social media updates).

Click ‘apply now’ to go to our online application portal.

Where will I live?

We match students with a local family near their placement that’ll create a home-away-from-home for them. Living with a family immerses students in Irish life, culture, and customs. Not to mention the cooking!

When do I apply?

The application deadline is based on when you’re available to intern.

Applications must be received at least 12 weeks before your intended start date.

Available start dates are as follows:

January 15, 2018
February 5, 2018
March 12, 2018
April 9, 2018
May 21, 2018
June 11, 2018
July 9, 2018
August 13, 2018
September 10, 2018
October 1, 2018
November 5, 2018
December 2018 (on request)